Bra with advanced anatomical support

ABSTRACT

Implementations of bra designs may comprise an inframammary support structure that is bonded or otherwise coupled to a lower pole support layer that is bonded or otherwise coupled to a fabric component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/028,112 filed on Jul. 23, 2014, entitled “Bra With Advanced Anatomical Support,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to brassiere (bra) designs that include advanced anatomical support structures.

BACKGROUND

A brassiere (bra) is an undergarment worn by the female with the general purpose of supporting the two breasts. The support allows for control of the volume, weight and position of the breasts for purposes of comfort, control, aesthetics and discretion. Various manifestations of bra designs exist with respect to intended function. Bras designed for aesthetics generally do not allow for maximum support. Full support bras typically lack desired aesthetics. Women with more breast volume usually require more support. Likewise, women with problematic shape and ptosis (looseness) require bras with more support and features that are designed to control problematic shape and position issues.

SUMMARY

Implementations of bra designs according to the present disclosure may comprise an inframammary support structure that is bonded or otherwise coupled to a lower pole support layer that is bonded or otherwise coupled to a fabric component.

The details of one or more implementations of a bra design in accordance with the present disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the implementations will be apparent from the description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial anterior view of an implementation of the bra design of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate representative nerve anatomy of the chest wall and breast and the relationship to pain produced by conventional bra use;

FIG. 3 illustrates an anterior view of a female torso identifying pertinent basic anatomy principles related to the bra design of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a female torso identifying pertinent basic anatomy principles related to the bra design of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a lateral view of the implementation of the bra design of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a lateral view of pertinent anatomy of the breast;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional top view of analysis of the breast relevant to the bra design of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an anterior view of an implementation of support structure of the bra design of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a lateral view of an implementation of components forming the bra design of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the implementation of the bra design of FIG. 1.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With bras that are currently available, structured features within the bra—designed to provide support and stability—are often the cause of discomfort in the wearer. Usually, discomfort stems from 1) tight circumferential pressure, 2) tight vertical pressure from the shoulder strap, 3) binding pressure from the lower cup margin or wire, and/or 4) adherence to obsolete, non-anatomic methods of bra fitting which results in a poor fit. Adding to the problem is the anatomic nature of the breast and chest wall with respect to sensory innervation.

The breast and chest wall are highly innervated with consistent patterns of sensory nerve distribution. Current bra designs aggravate discomfort as the structure of the bra itself inflicts significant pressure exactly on positions of specific sensory nerve origin and distribution.

A full breast lacking support experiences discomfort within the anatomic substance of the breast itself (due to stretch within the breast) and produces secondary pain in the back, shoulders and neck due to postural compensation.

Likewise, a full breast supported with conventional full support bras experiences discomfort also from primary stretch and strain, and secondary, postural pain. However, additional discomfort is experienced from the bra itself in an attempt to provide support.

Implementations of the bra design disclosed herein are intended to achieve improvements in breast comfort by:

-   -   (1) Following anatomic guidelines with respect to design and         precise fitting.     -   (2) Utilizing unique designs and materials with support elements         of the bra, which minimize pressure on known zones of sensory         innervation.     -   (3) Providing support with flexibility within the support         element to allow for support and movement.

Bras with conventional ‘underwire’ support achieve stability using rigid, inflexible, uni-dimensional materials such as wire or plastic. These designs offer static support, but typically the support is non-anatomic and inflexible during rotational movement and flexion. This causes pressure on the lateral and medial extent of the structure, placing point pressure directly on specific root sensory nerves of the breast and chest wall. Implementations of the bra design disclosed herein provide inframammory fold and lateral mammary fold support utilizing modern thermoplastic elements or other suitable materials that are:

-   -   (1) Lightweight;     -   (2) Three-dimensional in design with respect to the breast and         chest wall;     -   (3) Compressible;     -   (4) Shape maintaining; and     -   (5) Flexible.

The advanced design of a bra according to embodiments of the present disclosure may allow for more precise anatomic support without the “binding” or pinching effect of static metal or plastic wire support structure.

Additionally, implementations of the bra design disclosed herein may provide an anatomic approach to bra fitting. Since breast anatomy varies broadly among individuals, the common method of bra fitting is inadequate to allow maximum comfort. Breast anatomy varies in intermammary distance, base width of the breast, cup volume and chest diameter. Maximum comfort is achieved with greater success when a bra is designed to allow for normal variations in breast anatomy shape and size. Implementations of the bra disclosed herein may allow for the construction of a matrix of anatomy and shape parameters with which more precise fitting can be achieved.

One aspect of implementations of the bra design according to embodiments of the present disclosure is the structure providing inframammary support. This structure may be formed of a thermoplastic contour foam or similar material with differential density zones to allow for support and movement. This structure may have a three-dimensional design that follows the arc and width of the inframammary fold and its base width, but also follows the cross sectional curvature of the chest wall. The material forming this structure may be thicker and more rigid centrally where more support is required and more flexible laterally to allow for comfortable movement.

The material forming this structure may also have recoil memory, which allows for continued support. The thermoplastic contour foam or similar material is then bonded to the next structure constructed of fabric foam or similar material that offers support, but also flexibility. This component of the bra supports primarily the lower pole volume and its mass, allowing for comfort and control of shape. The upper pole of the bra is constructed of fabric, controlling shape but not responsible for support.

FIG. 1 depicts a partial anterior view of an implementation of a bra demonstrating structural components according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The bra may include inframammary structural support element 1 that encompasses medial, central and lateral support of lower pole support layer 2, supporting lower pole volume and controlling shape of the breast mass. This support structure may be a medium density foam/fabric element with stretch capacity, then extends medially into intermammary zone connection 3, and extends laterally into the lower aspect of shoulder strap component 4. Bonded to the upper border of lower pole support layer 2 is fabric component 5 of the bra, which is not intended for support, but does control shape of the mid portion and upper breast anatomy.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate representative nerve anatomy of the chest wall and breast and the relationship to pain produced by conventional bra use. More specifically, they depict stylized diagrams showing the approximate location of sensory nerves of the breast. The nerve bundles are concentrated along the lateral fold 1), inframammary fold 2) and medial fold 3) of the breast, precisely located in areas of contact of typical bras with lower margins contacting the fold structure. Bras with rigid support elements produce contract and pressure in areas of these nerve bundles, particularly during movement such as flexion and rotation. Specifically, the anterior rami of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th intercostal sensory nerve bundles medially 4) are most affected by brazier pressure. These nerves represent the primary sensory innervation of the breast and nipple, with dominant nerve to the nipple and central breast derived from the 4th branch of the intercostal nerve. The nerves exit under each corresponding rib, piercing the corresponding slip of the serratus anterior muscle, then enter the lateral and medial aspects of the breast, further branching within the breast. Bras providing support through pressure and/or tension pinch the nerves against the firm underlying rib cage, producing pain.

FIG. 3 depicts an anterior view of a female torso identifying pertinent basic anatomy principles related to the bra design of the present disclosure, particularly the breast and chest wall. Base diameter 1) is typically a reflection of chest wall dimension, though variation exists. Intermammary distance 2) may be variable and may be determined as a measurement between the medial aspects of each breast. Implementations of a bra according to embodiments of the present disclosure may allow for design and construction of a matrix of bra sizes with dimensions that allow for more precise fitting with respect to the variations in base diameter 1) and intermammary distance 2).

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a female torso identifying pertinent basic anatomy principles related to the bra design of the present disclosure, particularly the anterior lateral stylized surface anatomy of the chest and breast demonstrating the inframammary fold 1), lateral fold 2), and medial fold. Also demonstrated are the lower pole 3) and upper pole 4) of the breast.

FIG. 5 depicts a lateral view of an implementation of the bra design of FIG. 1 demonstrating engagement of the inframammary support structure of the bra. This structure provides primary support of the bra, analogous to the natural anatomic inframammary fold. The structure has variable density and thickness in specific zones of its extent. Centrally 2), the structure has maximum density for maximum support. Laterally 3), the structure has medium support and density, allowing for moderate flexion. Superolaterally 4), the structure has thinner dimension, allowing for medium support but also allowing for more flexibility. This flexibility allows for support but reduces compression of underlying sensory nerve bundles, muscles and ribs during flexion and rotational movement. The lower pole support structure 5) is bonded to the upper aspect of the inframammary support structure. This provides support and control of the lower pole weight and shape of the breast. This structure 5) extends superiorly into the shoulder strap of the bra to a variable extent, depending on the requirement of each specific bra size. The upper pole structure 6) is designed to control shape and is not significantly associated with support, the strap structure 7) allows for additional postero-lateral support of the chest wall soft tissue, posterolateral to the substance of the breast.

FIG. 6 depicts a lateral view of a schematic representation of pertinent anatomy of the breast. The inframammary fold 1) is a complex condensation of skin and facial components spanning the undersurface of the breast, comprising the anchoring support of the lower breast and lower pole of the breast. The lower pole of the breast 2) is skin and underlying volume in the dependent aspect of the breast from the nipple to the posterior chest wall.

These are relevant anatomical features or areas of the breast that are associated with support burden vs. support structure as related to bra design with features employed to maximize support. The inframammary fold 1) or crease supports the position of the breast on the chest wall, determines base width of the breast, determines lower pole shape and provides anchoring support at the level of the chest wall for the mass of the breast in the upright position. The lower pole of the breast 2) extends from the nipple areola complex to the inframammary fold, receiving accumulated volume in the upright position. Support of the lower pole mass is derived from the inframammary fold complex and the skin and superficial fascia of the lower pole. The upper pole of the breast receives modest support from the superficial fascia of the breast requires only passive support with respect to bra design.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional top view of analysis of the chest and breast demonstrating the inframammary support element of the chest wall according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The inframammary support structure 1) of implementations of the bra design may be formed of thermoplastic foam or other suitable material, molded to accommodate the curvature of the chest wall 2) in the saggital plane as the curvature of the inframammary fold in the vertical plane. The structure of the inframammary support allows for differential flexion at various intervals along its length with minimal flexion centrally and progressive increase in flexibility more laterally. The molded structure may also have shape memory, which will allow for reformation of starting shape after movement of the more flexible aspects of the structure. The differential flexion will be a function of structure thickness differences along the length as well as density differential in the molded foam material, with maximum density centrally and diminishing density and thickness laterally.

FIG. 8 depicts an anterior view of an implementation of the support structure of the bra design of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 depicts a lateral view of an implementation of components forming the bra design of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of an implementation of the bra design of FIG. 1.

It is to be understood the implementations are not limited to particular systems or processes described which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. As another example, “coupling” includes direct and/or indirect coupling of members.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. 

1. A bra comprising: an inframammary support structure; a lower pole support layer; and a fabric component, wherein the inframammary support structure is coupled to the lower pole support layer and the lower pole support layer is coupled to the fabric component.
 2. The bra of claim 1 wherein the inframammary support structure is bonded to the lower pole support layer.
 3. The bra of claim 1 wherein the lower pole support layer is bonded to the fabric component.
 4. The bra of claim 1 wherein the inframammary support structure is formed of a thermoplastic contour foam with differential density zones.
 5. The bra of claim 1 wherein the inframammary support structure has a three-dimensional design that follows the arc and width of the inframammary fold and base width and the cross-sectional curvature of the chest wall.
 6. The bra of claim 1 wherein the inframammary support structure has recoil memory.
 7. The bra of claim 1 wherein the inframammary support structure supports the lower pole volume and its mass.
 8. The bra of claim 1 wherein the lower pole support layer controls shape of the bra. 